Dental articulator



vJuly'20,1926. 7 1,593,527

A W. M. GAMBILL DENTAL -ARTI CULATOR Filed Oct. 19. 1925 SSheets-Sheet 1 il" 37 'haiilrlrlllllny nmiiiiiiiililinum y a.

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WMdWZ/NVENTOR- l July 20, 1926. 1,593,527

` w. M. GAMBILL DENTAL ARTICULATOR Filed oct. 19. 1925' s sheets-sheet 2 We; f2 ff 1,593,527 w. M. GAMBILL DENTAL ARTIGULATOR July 2o 1926.

Filed Oct; 19. 1925 Smeets-sheet 5 ,myx e ly .4f r y l'47 l W/YG'Z ZZZINVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 2o, reas.,

UNITED sri-iras WILLIAM M. GAMBILL,. OF MERKEL, TEXAS.

- maaar? DENTAL Y ARTICLFATOR.

Application mea october i9, 1925, serial No. 63,509.`Y`

three point contact, the rotation point, the

inward slant, the downward slant, and the incisal slantvon Vthe occlusal surface of the teeth.` Y

A further object of the invention is to provide,fin ai manner as hereinafter set forth, an articulator having means to provide, a combined oscillatory and vertical Vmovement during the grinding action and further wit-h ,ineans for positioning a retruded and 'aprotrudedbite-therein.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a Adental articulator, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable,` adjustable, thoroughly efficient and convenient in its use, readily coupled with a driving means therefor, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other Vobjects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically Ydescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variation-3. and modi-A iications can be resorted to vwhich come articulator in accordance with this inven-Y tion. Y y A Figure 2 is a Vsideelevation thereof. Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig- Y ure 1.

" Figure l1 is a section online 1l4, Figupper -rticulator 'member 'tov4 provide vfor lFiguren isa.v section online .5i- 5, Figure 3. y

Figurer is a top plan view ofthe upper varticulator member with the driving meansl therefor not/shown? f Figures?, v8 and'9 areen'd views pf differentA form of controlling means for the wherein like refer-r the grinding of the different slants onthe cusps of the teeth.

Referring to the drawings in detail,'1 denotes a stationary triangular base member provided with a series of depending supports 2 of substantial height and further providedwith afseries of openings-3;

The basel is adapted to have secured there to the set of teeth, Vnot shown, intended for the lower `jaw. The inner enlarged end ofthe base member 1 is provided centrally with an opening 4 having a threaded wall, and the narrow or outer-end of the base .member 1 is reduced, as at 5, to provide a ledge 6 and a shoulder 7. -The reduced portion has an opening v8 formed with a threadedwall. i

13 and isY furthermore provided with a'pair fromv the inner side thereof and cominunicatingwith the socket 1? is a channel 18 having a threaded wall. Formed in the upper face of the body portion 10, near the outer end thereof, is a circular cavity `19 formed with av rectangular extension 2O positioned in proximity to the outer side edge of said body portion/10, and the latter in proximity vto said outer side edgeis provided with a longitudinally extending bore 21' vintersected by the extension 20.' The bore 21V extends from the rear end edge of the body portion 10y and terminates in proximity to the rounded outer end 11 of said body portion. v

Formed integral with the lowery face of the body portion. 10, forwardly with respect to the opening 16 and disposed concentrically with respect to the cavity 19, is a depending sleeve 22 registering with an opening 23 which communicates with and is disposed centrally with respect to the cavity 19. The sleeve 22 forms a bearing member. The body portion 1() is formed with openings 24, in close proximity to the cavity 19.

Positioned Within the bore 21 is an operating shaft 25 provided with a worm 26 mounted in the extension 2O of the cavity 19. The shaft 25 extends from the rear end of the body portion and has connected therewith a flexible shafting 27 for revolving it. The wall of the bore 21 provides a bearing for the shaft 25, and the latter extends to the forward end of the bore 21 and beyond the extension of the cavity 19. The worm 26 is positioned on the shaft inwardly with respect to the forward end of the latter.

Extending through the forward end of the body portion 10 and sleeve 22, as well as projecting above said body portion 10 and depending below said sleeve is a vertically disposed shaft 28, operated from the shaft 25 and which is provided with any suitable means coacting with a controlling element for imparting an oscillatory and a vertical movement to the upper articulator member 9. As illustrated by way of example, the means carried by the shaft 28 is a cam 29 positioned in close proximity to the pointed lower end 30 of the shaft 28, The controlling element which coacts with the cam 29 is referred to generally atl 31 in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, and said controlling element 31 will be hereinafter more specilically referred to. The lower portion of the shaft 28 extends into the controlling element 31 and the pointed end 30 of the shaft 28 as well as the cam 29 coacts with the inner face of the controlling element 31 to provide for the movement imparted to the upper articulator member. The shaft 28 has its upper portion peripherally threaded, as at 32, for engagement with interior threads formed on the inner face of a gear wheel 33 having a hub extending from each side of the wheel and with the upper portion 34 of said hub of greater length than the lower Vportion 35 thereof. The hub is referred to generally by the reference character 36. The lower portion 35 of the hub 36 seats on bottom of the cavity 19 and spaces the worm wheel 33 therefrom. The upper portion 34 of tbe hub 36 extends above the top of the body portion 1() and through a closure plate 37 for the top of the cavity 19, and said plate 37 is secured to the body portion 10 by hold-fast devices 38 which engage with the walls of the openings 24. The shaft 2S extends above the. portion 34 of the huband carries a wing nut 39 for locking the worn gear 33 in position. The worm gear 33 and nut 39 bodily revolve with the shaft 28 and this action is caused by the meshing of the worm 26 with the worm gear 33.

The controllingv element 31 consists of a V-shaped trough 40 provided at its top with a pair of vertical exteinions 41, 42, arranged in parallelism. The trough 4() is open at its outer end and is closed at its rear end by a rear wall 43, which has its top edge Hush at the point of joinder of the extensions 41, 42 with the trough 40. Formed integral with the rear wall 43 is a rearwardly extending arm 44, which is positioned on the ledge 6 and abuts against the shoulder 7, and is detachably connected to the base member 1 b v a hold-fast device 45 extended through the arm 44 and having threaded engagement with the wall of the opening 8. The cam impacts against the inner faces of the extensions 41, 42 for im parting an oscillatory1 movement to the articulator member 9, and the 4pointed end 30 ol' the shaft 28 travels against the inclined faces of the trough 40 for imparting a vertical movement to the articulator 9 during the oscillatory movements thereof.

The detachable mounting of the control ling element 31 permits of different shapes of controlling elements being connected to the base member 1 to enable the grinding of the different slants on the cusps of the teeth and controlling elements of different shapes or contours are indicated at 46, 47 and 48 in Figures 7, 8 and 9 respectively. IThe element 46 has the sides 49 of its trough at an angle of forty-tive degrees, the ele ment 47 has the sides 50 of its trough at an an angle of thirty degrees, and the trough 51 of the element 38 is of semi-oval shape. lt is obvious that the troughs of the controlling eleinents can be of any shape desired for the purpose intended.

Arranged at the rear of the base member 1 and extending upwardly therefrom. is a supporting post having a reduced peripherally threaded portion 53 for engagement with the walls of the opening 4. The reduced portion 53 provides a shoulder 54 which abuts against the upper face of the base member 1. The reduced portion 53 ex tends through the opening 4 and carries on its lower end a securing nut 55 which abuts against the lower face of the base member 1. rl`he upper end of the post 52 is peripherally threaded, as at 56. and engaging therewith is an interiorly threaded cap 57 provided with a forwardly extending. angularly disposed arm 58 terminating in a spherical head 59. which is mounted in a spherical socket 60. formed in the head 61 of a bolt 62, which has threaded engagement with the wall ofthe socket 17. 'The head 61 and arm 58 are positioned in the cutout portion 13. The head 59, in connection with the socket 60, forms a universal joint l connection* between i the art-iculatofr iF rmed integral wvithfthe rearV ofthe ari iticulatorj' ai pair of depending spaced curvedlarm's "63," 64,*'which seat onfa .plate 65 slidablymounted on the post`52".y Interposed between theA plate. 65xand the Abase member 1, and surrounding the post a coiledcontr'olling spring v66'for the articulator '9, LandVL saidspring V66 Ynormally tends f to maintain'the shaft 28 in the controlling lofthefcontrolling spring'GG.

' "The universal' joint'conne'ction betweenthe element, a'ndvjthe '-verticalmovement of the shaft 28 caused by the riding of the latter against the inner vface of the trough ofthe controlling element ishad against the action articulator member 9 and post 52 provides forV the retruded and protruded positions of the articulator `member during the operation thereotji I 1 Theratio of the gear'wheel 33'w'ith respp'ectf'to the worin'26 vis preferably 30 to l,"but itfistobe understood that the shaft 28 canfbe ,drivenv at` anyidesiredspeed to prnvide'gfor satisfactorylgrinding. j l j "",flhe universallofb'alland socket joint connection enables:freefmoveinent'of the articulator member 9 fand thel'atterfisalways under tension, dueto tlie'arrangenient of the "rmsf 673', 64 with respe'ctgt thelspri'ng conthe many' advantages pf an articulator, more particularly: tothei'mpartingff an 'oscillatory and vertical movement to fthe upper" articular ilueml'ier,` can V,be readily" understobd, and althou'ghv'the pr`eferred embodiment'of the ,invention isfas illustratedl and described, "yet changesl in the details o f Yj"constjruction Qcan Wrfel .Meggie@are ,ofthe averti@ as; Vclaimed@V *dental articulaltof bilisy a spring.v` Vcontrolled upper articulator I. member arrangedfin superpo'sed relation with respect tothefbase and Y'havingv a ,universal joint-connection at itsiinn'er en'dwi'th'thejinneri end of the base andl revljuble driven ymeans carried: by,l and,depe'n'drin'g4 'from' the outerendof said memberand'peratively en- 'gaging with the baseat the Vouter endio'f the latter for impartingsimultaneously an oscillatory and a'vertical movement to said member, the controlling spring for said member resiliently maintaining the engagement of said driven means with the base.

2. A dental articulatorcomprising a base, a spring controlled upper articulator memberV arranged in superposed relation with respect to the base and having a universal joint connection therewith, driven means carried by said member and operatively engaging with the base for imparting simulta* neously an oscillatory and a vertical movement-'tosaid member, and meansmounted i-*ns'aid member for operating said driven mea-ns.-

A` dental articulator comprising a base,

iaffcontrolling element `projecte"dl from the 'outer'endthereofg aspring controlled upper articulator member positionedV in superposed Vrelation withrespect to the'base' and having a funiversal 4joint connection atY its inner leifd "with the inner ,end lof the base, and

revoluble driven means carried by and dependin'gjfromthe outer end of said member and extending mand engaging theupper face of said element for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to'said member, the controlling spring -for saidfmember resiliently maintainingy the engagement-of said driven'means with said element. Y'

Adental iartic'ulator comprising" a base,

Ymember :arranged over the base and having auniverjsal joint connection therewith at its rear end with the base, and a driven means depending from the forward end of said member and 'havingits lower end provided witlifmeans engagingthe upper face of the trough portion of said element -and vfurther engaging with said element above the trough portionl thereof for simultaneously imparting van'p's'c'i'llatory and a vertical movement tos id :member against` theqaction of a controlli'igispring for the latter. p

dental articula-tor comprising abase, a controlling element carried bythe forward endthereof and provided with 'aftrough portion, a spring` controlled upper articulator memberfarranged over the base andfhaving a iunivljersal joint, connection therewith at lits 'rear end with -thel base, a driven means de pending from the forward end of said member and having its lower end provided with means engaging the upper face of the trough portion of said element and further engaging with said element above the trough portion thereof for simultaneously imparting an oscillatory and a vertical movement to Vsaid member against the action of a controlling spring for the latter, and means mounted'in said member for operating vsaid driven means.

7. A dental articulator comprising a base, a spring controlled upper articulator member arranged in superposed relation with respect to the base and having a universal joint connection at its inner end with the inner end of the base and revoluble adjustable driven means carried by and depending from the outer end of said member and operatively engaging with the base at the outer end of the latter for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member, the controlling spring for said member resiliently maintaining the engagement of said driven means with the base.

8. A dental articulator comprising a base, a controlling element projected from the outer end thereof, a spring controlled upper articulator member positioned in superposed relation with respect to the base and having a universal joint connection at its inner end with the inner end of the base, and revoluble adjustable driven means carried by and depending from the outer end of said member and extending in and engaging the upper face of said element for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member, the controlling spring for said member resiliently maintaining the engagement of said driven means with said element.

9. A dental articulator comprising a base, a controlling element carried by the forward end thereof and provided with a trough portion, a spring controlled upper articulator member arranged over the base and having a universal joint connection therewith at its rear end with the base, and an adjustable driven means depending from the forward end of said member and having its lower end provided with means engaging the upper face of the trough portion of said element and further engaging with said element above the trough portion thereof for simultaneously imparting an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member against the action of a controlling spring for the latter.

l0. A dental articulator comprising a base, a post extended upwardly from the rear end thereof, an upper articulator member, a universal oint connection between the rear end of said member and said post, said member having a pair of depending arms and the post provided with a spring coacting with the arms to form a spring controlling means for the member, a controlling element secured to the forward end of said base, and revoluble drivenrneans depending from the the forward end of said member and operatively engaging with the inner face of said controlling element for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member, said spring controlling means acting to permanently maintain said driven means in resilient engagement with the controlling element.

ll. A dental articulator comprising a base, a post extended upwardly from the rear end thereof, an upper articulator member, a universal joint connection between the rear end of said member and said post, said member and said post having coacting elements to provide spring controlling means for the member, -a control-lin" element secured to the forward end o? said base, driven means depending from the forward end of said member and operatively engaging with the inner face of said con trolling element for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member, and means mounted in said member for operating said driven means, said spring controlling means acting to permanently maintain said driven means in resilient engagement with the controlling element.

12. A dental articulator comprising a base, a post extended upwardly from the rear end thereof, an upper articulator member, a universal joint connection between the rear end of said member and said post, said member having a pair of depending arms and the post provided with a spring coacting with the arms to form a spring controlling means for the member, a controlling elementsecured to the forward end of said base, and revoluble adjustable driven means depending from the forward end of said member and operatively engaging with the inner face of said controlling element for imparting simultaneously an oscillatory and a vertical movement to said member.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto.

VILLIAM M. GAMBILL. 

